WSSC customers under mandatory water restrictions after 60-inch water main break

A water main break in a
60-inch pipe in Chevy Chase has prompted
mandatory water
restrictions for all
Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission
customers to ensure fire departments,
hospitals and medical facilities have
the water they need.

A closer look shows the snapped steel wires at
the pipe joint. (WSSC/Facebook)

WASHINGTON – A massive water main break in a 60-inch pipe has prompted mandatory water restrictions for all Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission customers.

WSSC says the water restrictions for its 1.8 million customers in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties are needed to ensure fire departments, hospitals and medical facilities have the water they need.

“We want you to help us keep the pressure up for fire protection,” Jim Neustadt, spokesman for WSSC, tells WTOP.

“If everyone can cut their water use by 10 percent we should be OK. We appreciate everyone’s understanding and cooperation.”

Nobody is without water service.

Washington Gas and Pepco crews are on the scene securing their lines that run along the water main so that work on the main can begin. The pre-stressed concrete cylinder pipe went into service in 1980, WSSC says.